Seizures Flashcards

1
Q

What is the chronic disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures secondary to a CNS disorder?

A

Epilepsy

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2
Q

What can trigger a seizure?

A

Environmental or physiological stimuli or infection

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3
Q

What is the term used to describe abnormal excessive electrical discharges from the cortical neuronal network of cells on the surface of the brain and may cause involuntary movement or behavior/sensory changes?

A

Seizures

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4
Q

What do chemical changes in the neurons create that enables the transfer of info b/t neurons?

A

Electrical negativity

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5
Q

What increases during a seizure?

A

BMR, demand for O2 and glucose

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6
Q

What can occur during a seizure that can be life-threatening and causes the pt. to look pale/cyanotic and/or hypoglycemic?

A

Hypoxia

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7
Q

SGA, prematurity, presence of underlying neurological conditions, infections, brain tumors, stroke, cerebral palsy, autism, and fam history of drug abuse are all what?

A

Risk factors

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8
Q

What are some seizures precaution measures taken?

A

Pads on bed, low stimuli room, O2/suction available

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9
Q

What are key questions to ask about a pt’s seizures?

A

What type, aura, DURATION, description of seizure-LOC/motor activity, meds and how they appear after-physical/neuro exam

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10
Q

Seizure action plan?

A

Maintain pt. safety, position on side, call for help, observe/reassess, monitor O2 sat, HR and RR, and protect from self-harm

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11
Q

What are generalized seizures that result in a rise in temp above 39C and is associated w/ acute illness?

A

Febrile seizures

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12
Q

What ages do febrile seizures usually occur at?

A

3mon-5yrs (peak b/t 17-24mon)

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13
Q

True or false.

If a pt. has 1 febrile seizure are 30-50% greater chance of having future seizures.

A

True

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14
Q

Are febrile seizures treated w/ antiepileptics?

A

No, treat fever instead w/ antipyretics

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15
Q

What type of seizure is caused by abnormal electrical activity in 1 hemisphere or specific area of the cerebral cortex, most often the temporal, frontal or parietal lobes?

A

Focal seizures (partial seizures)

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16
Q

What type of seizure results from diffuse electrical activity that often begins in both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously and spreads t/o the cortex into the brainstem?

A

Generalized seizures

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17
Q

What type of focal type seizures involves activation of only a restricted part of 1 cerebral hemispheres?

A

Simple/complex partial seizures

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18
Q

What type of generalized seizure involves both hemispheres as well as deeper structures like the thalamus, basal ganglia?

A

Absent seizures (Petite mal)

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19
Q

Minimizing/maintaining triggers like flashing lights, strong odors, fatigue, hypoglycemia, fever, alcohol, hyperventilation, diet, exercise and/or rest are all what?

A

Preventions

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20
Q

What is continuous seizure activity w/ only very short periods of calm b/t intense and persistent seizures and usually occurs w/ generalized tonic-clonic seizures?

A

Status epilepticus

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21
Q

What generalized type of seizures are most common in children, have a warning aura before the seizure and have a sudden loss of consciousness?

A

Tonic Clonic seizures

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22
Q

What type of seizure has no alteration in LOC, typically only affects motor portion of cortex, if sensory involved has abnormal sensations/hallucinations, has a disruption in autonomic nervous system (flushing, HTN, hypotension, or tachycardia) and psychic symptoms like Deja Vu or inappropriate fear?

A

Simple partial seizures

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23
Q

What type of seizure impairs LOC, has a sudden brief cessation of motor activity, blank stare, or unresponsiveness?

A

Absent seizures (Petite mal)

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24
Q

What type of seizures has impaired consciousness that lasts for several hours, exhibits repetitive, non purposeful activity like lip smacking or picking @ things, and amnesia is common to occur after? (usually in temporal lobe)

A

Complex partial seizures

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25
Q

What is the term used to describe an early warning sign of a seizure that may manifest as any type of sensory alteration like an odor, a smell, a taste, an eye twitch, or HA?

A

Aura

26
Q

What type of seizure is most common in children and varies from occasional to several 100 a day?

A

Absent seizures (Petite mal)

27
Q

How long does an absent seizure usually last for?

A

5-10sec, can go up to 30sec

28
Q

What type of seizure has a great risk for hypoxia, acidosis, hypoglycemia, hyperthermia, and exhaustion?

A

Status epilepticus

29
Q

What phase of a seizure is it when airway may be compromised, muscles are rigid, has continuous muscular contractions, urinary incontinence/unconsciousness occurs, breathing ceases, pupils are fixed/dilated and lasts 15-60sec? (stiff)

A

Tonic phase

30
Q

What phase of a seizure follows seizure activity where LOC is decreased and pt. is often sleeping but arousable and length varies?

A

Postictal period

31
Q

What phase of a seizure is it where alternating contractions and relaxation of muscles of all extremities occurs, hyperventilation occurs, eyes roll back, froths @ mouth, and last b/t 60-90sec? (a lot of movement)

A

Clonic phase

32
Q

What seizure may have Jasksonian march/seizure where it is not confined to 1 area?

A

Simple partial seizures

33
Q

Status epilepticus needs immediate intervention; what is the major priority in this type of seizure?

A

Maintaining airway

34
Q

What meds other than an anticonvulsant would you admin for a status epilepticus?

A

IV 50% dextrose, diazepam/lorazepam IV q10min, or Phenobarbital

35
Q

What anticonvulsant med for status epilepticus would you admin for a long term control?

A

Phenytoin IV

36
Q

Lab tests, CBC, blood chemistry, urine culture, lumbar puncture, CT, MRI, EEG, or angiogram are all what?

A

Diagnostic tests

37
Q

What meds are given to pt’s w/ seizures to reduce or control most seizure activity but cannot cure it?

A

Anticonvulsant meds (AED’s)

38
Q

The goal of AED’s is to protect from ___ and to reduce or prevent ____ activity w/o impairing _____ _____ or producing undesirable ____ ____.

A

Harm, seizure, cognitive function, side effects

39
Q

What is having a reaction to the same type of meds your parents do?

A

Pharmacogenetics

40
Q

AED’s slows the entrance of what back into neurons which extends the time if takes for nerves to return to active state?

A

Na and Ca

41
Q

AED’s suppress what which decreases seizure activity and prevents propagation of seizure activity into other areas of the brain?

A

Neuronal firing

42
Q

AED’s decrease seizure activity by enhancing the inhibitory effects of what?

A

GABA

43
Q

What type of therapy is preferred to treat seizures, but still need regular blood tests done to measure motor activity and affect of med?

A

Monotherpy (1 drug)

44
Q

Sleepiness, decreased attention/memory, difficulty w/ speech and ataxia or diplopia (double vision) are all what?

A

S/S of AED’s

45
Q

Phenytoin (Dilantin), Phenobarbital (Luminal), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Valporic acid (Depakene), Ethosuximide (Zarontin), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Primidone (Mysoline) are all what?

A

Older AED’s

46
Q

What AED needs liver function tests done ALT/AST bc of possible hepatoxicity?

A

Depakene

47
Q

What AED has these adverse effects: CNS side effects, Nystagmus, double vision, birth defects, blood dyscrasia (leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia) and decreased effects of oral contraceptives?

A

Tegretol

48
Q

What AED has these adverse effects: gingival hyperplasia, skin rash, teratogenic, hisutism, interferes w/ vitamin D, and decreased effects of oral contraceptives?

A

Dilantin

49
Q

Levetiracetam (Keppra), Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), Gabapentin (Neurotonin), Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and Zonisamide (Zonegran) are all what?

A

Newer AED’s

50
Q

What AED has these adverse effects: CNS side effects like dizziness and increase risk for suicide?

A

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

51
Q

What AED has these adverse effects: N/V so need to check sodium levels often?

A

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

52
Q

What AED has these adverse effects: drowsiness and insomnia?

A

Gabapentin (Neurotonin)

53
Q

What AED has these adverse effects; steven’s johnson?

A

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

54
Q

What are seizures that continue to occur even w/ optimal med management?

A

Intractable seizures (25-30%)

55
Q

What diet therapy is used that involves fasting for 24hr then starting a diet of a high intake of fat (80%), adequate intake of protein (1g/kg), very low intake of carbs, caloric intake of 75% and fluids restricted to 80%?

A

Ketogenic diet therapy

56
Q

How many years does a pt. need to be seizure free in order to undergo trial withdrawal?

A

2yrs

57
Q

Ketogenic diet therapy is used for pt’s of what age who have what type of seizures?

A

Less than 8y/o; myoclonic/absent seizures

58
Q

What are some complications of a ketogenic diet?

A

Constipation, hyperlipidemia, or kidney stones

59
Q

Removal of lesions, tumor or portion of the brain, cerebral hemispherectomy (intractable epilepsy) and vagal nerve stimulator are all what?

A

Surgeries for seizures

60
Q

Ineffective breathing pattern/airway clearance, risk for trauma, chronic low self-esteem, anxiety, ineffective therapeutic regimen management, and readiness for enhanced fam process are all what?

A

Diagnosis

61
Q

What are the 5 most important things in providing nursing care to pt’s w/ seizures?

A

Airway patency, safety, admin of meds, emotional support, and an action plan